Estonian Restoration of Independence

Estonian Restoration of Independence, legally defined as the Restoration of the Republic of Estonia, was proclaimed on 20 August 1991. On that day at 23:02 local time, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia, in agreement with the Estonian Committee (the executive organ of the Congress of Estonia), declared the illegal Soviet occupation and annexation of the country terminated, and proclaimed the full restoration of the independence of Estonia.
1990
On 30 March 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR adopted a resolution on the state status of Estonia. Declaring that the occupation of the Republic of Estonia by the Soviet Union on 17 June 1940 did not de jure interrupt the existence of the Republic of Estonia, The Supreme Soviet declared the state power of the Estonian SSR illegal from the moment of its establishment and proclaimed the beginning of the restoration of the Republic of Estonia. A transitional period was announced until the formation of the constitutional bodies of state power of the Republic of Estonia. On 8 May the same year, the Supreme Soviet of the ESSR adopted a law invalidating the name "Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic". Also, according to this law, the use of the coat of arms, flag, and anthem of the Estonian SSR as state symbols was terminated and the 1938 Constitution of the independent Republic of Estonia was restored. The name of the Supreme Soviet is thereafter translated as the "Supreme Council". A week later the law on the principles of the interim order of administration of Estonia was adopted, according to which the subordination of public authorities, public administration, court bodies was terminated and the prosecutor's office of the republic to the relevant authorities of the USSR, and they separated from the corresponding system of the USSR. It was announced that relations between the republic and the USSR are now based on the Tartu Peace Treaty, concluded between the Republic of Estonia and the RSFSR on 2 February 1920.
Independence referendum of 3 March 1991
On 3 March, a referendum was held on the independence of the Republic of Estonia, which was attended by those who lived in Estonia before the Soviet annexation and their descendants, as well as persons who have received the so-called "green cards" of the Congress of Estonia. 77.8% of those who voted supported the idea of restoring independence.
Denmark recognized Estonia's independence on 11 March.
The 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt
The August Coup or August Putsch took place on 19–22 August 1991 and was an attempt by members of the Soviet Union's government to take control of the country from the Soviet President and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
19 August 1991
As the coup attempt was taking place in Moscow and with that the military and political attention of the Soviet Union otherwise occupied, various republics of the Soviet Union took the opportunity to declare their independence. On the evening of 19 August, delegates from the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia and the Estonian Committee started negotiations to confirm the independence of the Republic of Estonia. The main debate was a crucial one: should Estonia declare independence as a new Republic or continue with the juridical continuation of the Republic of Estonia established in 1918 and occupied in 1940.
20 August 1991
At 23:02 on the evening of 20 August 1991, during a live broadcast carried out by Estonian Television, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia voted on the confirm of its Restoration of Independence.
Out of the 105 delegates of the Supreme Council 70 were present, 69 voted in favour of the restoration. Two delegates, Klavdia Sergij and Kaido Kama, did not register to vote and walked out before voting began. Those who voted in favour of the restoration were:
Ülle Aaskivi
Mati Ahven
Andres Ammas
Tõnu Anton
Uno Anton
Lembit Arro
Hillar Eller
Kaljo Ellik
Ignar Fjuk
Illar Hallaste
Liia Hänni
Arvo Junti
Jaak Jõerüüt
Rein Järlik
Ants Järvesaar
Villu Jürjo
Hillar Kalda
Teet Kallas
Peet Kask
Johannes Kass
Kalju Koha
Valeri Kois
Mai Kolossova
Jüri Kork
Toomas Kork
Heino Kostabi
Ahti Kõo
Tiit Käbin
Ants Käärma
Mart Laar
Marju Lauristin
Enn Leisson
Jüri Liim
Jaan Lippmaa
Alar Maarend
Tiit Made
Mart Madissoon
Tõnis Mets
Aavo Mölder
Ülo Nugis
Ants Paju
Eldur Parder
Heldur Peterson
Andrei Prii
Priidu Priks
Jüri E. Põld
Enn Põldroos
Koit Raud
Jüri Reinson
Andrus Ristkok
Jüri Rätsep
Arnold Rüütel
Tõnu Saarman
Edgar Savisaar
Hanno Schotter
Lehte Sööt
Aldo Tamm
Rein Tamme
Andres Tarand
Indrek Toome
Enn Tupp
Ain Tähiste
Uno Ugandi
Ülo Uluots
Heinrich Valk
Ants Veetõusme
Rein Veidemann
Helgi Viirelaid
Vaino Väljas
21 August 1991
On the morning of 21 August 1991, Soviet paratroopers were taking charge of the Tallinn's TV tower, while the television broadcast was cut off for a while, the radio signal was strong as a handful of Estonian Defence League (the unified paramilitary armed forces of Estonia) members barricaded the entry into signal rooms.
By the afternoon of the same day it was clear that the coup in Moscow had failed and the paratroopers released the tower and left Estonia.
20 August Club
In 1994, the 20 August Club was established. The club's members are those politicians who voted in favour of the restoration on 20 August 1991.
See also
On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia - A similar Act in the Latvian SSR
Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania - A similar Act in the Lithuanian SSR
State continuity of the Baltic states
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
References
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Law of Estonia
Declarations of independence
1991 in Estonia
Singing Revolution
1991 in the Soviet Union
August 1991 events in Europe
1991 documents